Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Thank you everybody for being here. This is the Tuesday, September 1st, 2020, 2026 meeting of the Camden County Board of Commissioners. We're going to begin opening ceremonies with an invocation by Commissioner Goodman, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Let us pray. Our Father and our God in heaven, we come to thee. humbling ourselves in prayer, asking for your guidance tonight. Father, there's sickness in this community, and we want to hold up one of your servants, Sidney, who is in Jacksonville, Sidney Howell, and his family. We don't question your will. We ask that you comfort them, be with them. We ask also that you be with your servant, our fellow Commissioner Martin Turner, as he performs ministerial duties. We ask for things to be done according to your will. Father, we ask always for your protection for those who serve us in uniform,

Yeah, Commissioner Turner is not here. He's ministering to the Howell family, so he won't attend tonight. Moving on to the amendments to the agenda, I think we have one item to add under executive session to litigation. We have personnel and real estate already listed. We want to add litigation to that, so... I'll make a motion we adopt the agenda as amended to add litigation to the executive session.

Well, we have a motion. I have one more item I'd like to... I'm sorry?

I have one more amendment I'd like to make, but you have a motion. I'm sorry?

I have one more amendment I'd like to make, but you have a motion.

We have a motion on the floor to adopt the agenda as amended.

Correct. There was one more amendment I'd like to make. You were a little quick on the draw. Nobody else could get a word out. I can't hear you. I'd like to remove item eight from the agenda. Commissioner Turner had some things he wanted to discuss with us, and since he can't be here, I wanted to possibly remove that. It's a consideration of bid award for janitorial services.

Okay, so you want to amend the motion to remove...

I wanted to amend the agenda, but you made a motion. You want to move the first reading of the Parks and Rec from the agenda? No, number eight, consideration of bid award for janitorial services contract.

Okay, I'll rescind my motion. I'll let you make the motion.

Well, I would just like to add the amendment to remove that off the agenda.

But you handled it in two separate actions. Right? Two separate actions. So you made a motion to remove, correct, the parks? Yes. No.

So the second is? It's seconded now. Okay.

We have a motion and a second to add executive session to the litigation to the executive session. That is the motion, right? We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Finally got that one.

Yes. I would move to amend the agenda to remove item number eight until Commissioner Turner could be with us to discuss that. He had some things he wanted to address.

Okay. So we have a motion to remove item number eight from the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Anybody opposed? Okay, now we've got that straight, let's move on. Move on to the approval of the minutes for the August 18th, 2026 regular meeting and executive session. Entertain a motion to approve.

Make a motion to approve the agenda items, the minute items as specified.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion carries. Okay, we have a couple of presentations before us tonight. First one is recognition of the month of September, Suicide Prevention Month.

You said 3 million was infrastructure for water and 7 million was for the fields?

Did you say Plug pays a million dollars in property tax?

I had a couple. So the RFP going to market for the North River Gilman property. Right. Was there any kind of criteria? I know sometimes you see when bids go out, we have benchmarks we'd like people to incorporate in their proposals or...

So in a perfect world, we're looking for like a Whole Foods with some condominiums on the top and a parking area? Yeah.

On the... Does anybody else have any other questions before I just keep going on? I don't want to be rude. On the Georgia-Florida Sports Park, for the $3 million versus $7 million, $3 million for utility improvements, $7 million going towards the construction of the fields, who will ultimately end up owning the fields?

But the $10 million allocated was a countywide project, correct?

Okay, ownership of fields. When is your next collaborative meeting? I know you said you do them quarterly.

Oh, thank you very much. Any other questions?

No, I just want to applaud the work you're doing as far as turning around the image of the JDA. Ben, I know since you've become chairman, we've seen some positive things, so thank you both.

Okay, moving forward, we're going to move into the first public comments section. This section is for any item on the agenda. Limit your comments to three minutes. State your name. Anybody sign up?

Ma'am, this is about Sweetwater. This is about Sweetwater.

Thank you, ma'am. Anybody else? Before we move into the public hearing section, I'll make a motion that we take a five-minute break. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? We'll be back in five.

I know it's a lot warmer in there, isn't it? Okay, moving on. Entertain a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and enter a public hearing.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Okay, now we're going to enter the public hearing phase. The first item is the first reading of the edition of Chapter 12, Parks and Recreation Facilities to the Official Code of Camden County. Does anybody in the audience wish to speak on this item? Seeing none.

I BET THAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION. I MOVE TO HAVE HIM READ THE WHOLE THING. OKAY. LINE BY LINE.

Anybody else? Moving on? Cassie. Thank you.

Okay, does anybody in the audience want to speak for this item? Does anybody want to speak against the item? Seeing none, we'll move on to the next guessing.

Thank you. Anybody who wish to speak for this item? Junior, come up to the podium there. Just give your name and your address. Your name and your address?

THANK YOU. ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ITEM? So Cassie, what's the issue with the Planning Commission more of these go with wood rather than the metal?

Can we ask questions? Yes, sir. You said when discussing this particular item that the board had previously approved it with those conditions originally, the 20-foot buffer and the solid wood fence. What was the reasoning behind those being the conditions then? I mean, not necessarily the setback, but the wood fence. It's a noise issue, right?

Okay, and that's the homeowner, that's the people that live where you just read the comment from, correct? Yes. And they would prefer to keep it solid wood versus metal? Those are the only questions I had, thank you.

If I could just ask for, what's being fabricated there?

There's no, you'd be putting the buildings together, there's no sawing, I mean, other than the general day-to-day stuff. Yeah. Right.

Okay, seeing nothing else, make a motion to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Now moving to the regular meeting, Cassie.

Mr. Chairman, I'll move to approve. The zoning map amendment for RZN 260007. I'll second.

We have a motion and a second for approval. All in favor? Motion carries. Next item.

Okay, I'll make a motion that we approve the three-foot setback reduction to save the tree, but I'd also like to have in the motion that we allow the use of the metal fencing rather than the wood.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? All opposed?

Thank you, ma'am. Moving on to item three.

Mr. Chairman, I move to waive the first reading of this ordinance, but I would like Jared to answer some questions regarding the ordinance.

Okay, we have a motion to waive the first reading and I'll second. Open for discussion.

I guess I'll just ask my questions now. So has our legal counsel had a chance to review the ordinance?

Is that better, Jim? Thank you. Okay, so I had some questions about some of the verbiage here. So on the first page under authorized representative, it says Cannon County Sheriff Department. Legally, the sheriff's office is a constitutional office, so I want to make sure we correct that from department to office. Okay. Okay. Um, it says that those authorized representatives will be assigned in writing. Um, and I was just wondering where we're going to be keeping a list of authorized representatives. So like if I'm at a park enjoying myself and someone approaches me and says that they are, I'm

So the sheriff's office will need separate written authorization to be an authorized representative?

Okay. So under section... On the very top of the third page, that section B there, it shall be unlawful for any person. That's that item there. It says any person violating this subsection shall be punished by a fine up to 500 or imprisoned up to 30 days or both. My question, is this a jailable offense? Yes. So, like, an authorized representative says you have to leave and you don't, and they're subject to these things. If it's arrestable, I guess it would have to have a bond or else someone's sitting in jail. That's the challenge we have right now with law enforcement trying to enforce our or

So people aren't going to be held in jail... for violating a park rule.

Right. Well, I'm also thinking about Howard People's Park. People, you know, we have all that. It's kind of blocked off, but people set up in the back behind the ball fields over by the Frisbee golf.

Okay. One, two, three, four. So on the fifth page, hours of public access to parks, historic sites, and recreational area. It says county parks, historic sites, recreational areas will be open for use of the public between sunrise and sunset or at times designated by county supervised activity. My question is what constitutes a county supervised activity? I know we have at Howard People's Park, for example. I'm glad you asked one. People playing pickleball into the night.

I'm not trying to target Pickleball in particular, but I just think that's the most prevalent example I can think of. Will those be extended hours that are set, or is it just... when people are done playing pickleball? Because the lights kind of stay on all day.

OKAY. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SHALL FORMULATE RULES AND REGULATIONS COVERING these particular activities mentioned here on the next page. It says rules and regulations shall not become effective until approved by the board. My question is, are those going to be published and maintained somewhere? I want to make sure people that are enjoying a county park are aware of the rules that they're going to be subject to or could be questioned on by a county representative. So I guess are all the rules we're going to hold people accountable to, will those be posted at the park?

I think my, two more questions. So, cleanup event organizer qualifications and timelines. It has the provision here about getting a certificate of insurance up to a million dollars. My question is, I know in the future we're planning on developing some sort of adopt-a-park program where we could have organized cleanups. Would those groups also be required to obtain a certificate of insurance, or is this for hosting?

So large organized events, not necessarily an impromptu family reunion.

And the last question are probably more of a cleanup on the second to last page under public safety personnel fees. It just says if the department determines, I imagine that's your department, but I think we might want to specify.

Okay, so again, I think we should be specific. If the public works department or sheriff's office determines, being intentional about being specific about who's responsible.

Okay, we have a motion on the floor to waive the first reading. I have a motion and a second. Any board discussion? All in favor?

Anything else? All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you. Item number four, Jared.

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the purchase and installation of a generator for the communications tower on Naval Summer in Base Kings Bay. Second. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries.

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the award of an HVAC installation contract for the Child Development Center on Naval Summer Inn Base Kings Bay.

I'll second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

I wanted to ask, so you said about $4,000 worth of profit on the previous, and then this one's about $3,000 worth of profit. It was stated earlier during public comment that you would need to perform about $2 million worth of projects to be able to afford the excavator that we have down here on item seven. So my question is about how many millions of dollars or dollars worth of projects do you have currently on the books with the...

So we're on track to make the $200,000 you need for the excavator coming up.

And you're not doing that just because you like extra work. You're doing that because we signed an intergovernmental service agreement to provide that to the base.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Motion carries.

Mr. Chairman, I move to purchase the VAPCO cooling tower unit for the Child Development Center on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. We took item number eight off the agenda. Now we're going to item number nine, which is the drought study.

Entertain a motion? I'll make a motion to approve.

Did we have a second? We have a motion and a second. Discussion?

You said we've already approved the acceptance of the grant. How much was the grant for?

Moving on to item number 10. It's the lease agreement for the Department of Juvenile Justice. This is just a standard thing we do. Not much explanation necessary. I make a motion we approve the lease agreement with the Department of Juvenile Justice.

All in favor? Motion carries. Moving on to the calendar.

County Administrator's not here. Shannon, do you have any comment?

Okay, move on to the additional public comments section. This is the comments from anything.

Anybody else? Nobody else. Down to Commissioner comments. Anybody have any comments?

All I want to say is I'm freezing to death. Well, then I'll make this real quick.

I'll make this real quick. I just wanted to recognize Ms. Claire, who works with us here. She gave the presentation today for the proclamation recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month. She represents the county on the Camden Family Connection. Family Connection Camden Organization, which kind of brings all those nonprofit and social services organizations together, one of those being the Suicide Prevention Organization. I just don't think you get enough credit for what you do in that space. So thank you, Claire.

Okay, entertain a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and convene the executive session to discuss real estate personnel and potential litigation.

I make a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the regular meeting.

I make a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the regular meeting, Mr. Chairman. Second.

Got a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion carries. Okay, we have two action items relative to the executive session. Item number one is?

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the resolution and contract for representation and fee agreement regarding fire apparatus antitrust litigation.

I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion carries. Action item number two is I make a motion for the approval of professional services agreement for the retaining of legal services for the county attorney.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor?